Electrolytic apparatus.



L H. LEVIN.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS.

APPLlcAnoN FILED JUNE 3.19m.

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ISAAC H. LEVI, F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS.

Specification of Matters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26. 1916.

Application filed J uni: '3, 1916. Serial No. 101,468.

` the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to electrolytic apparatus and more particularly to such apparatus of the bi-p'olar electrode type.

Heretofore, in this art, it has been the accepted theory that in all electrolytic apparatus used in the production of oxygen and hydrogen, the current yield or capacity efficiency of the apparatus, or gases, produced with a given current, will be in direct ratio to the purity ofthe gases produced. In apparatus using uni-polarelectrodes, the correctness of this theory has been demonstrated; and heretofore it has been universally accepted as being also applicable to apparatus using bi-polar electrodes. With apparatus of the last named type, however, the current yield or the quantity of gases produced with a given current, has always been far below the theoretical capacity efficiency of the apparatus according to the accepted law above referred to. This disi crepancy in the yield, has been generally attributed by workers in the art, to wastage through leakage of gases from the apparatus by reason of imperfect packing between the different electrodes entering'into the apparatus.

I have heretofore made and, used electrolytic apparatus ofjthe bi-polar type wherein sufficiently tight' joints between adjacent electrodes have reduced the waste through leakage to a point of substantial elimination and have also b uilt such apparatus wherein the percentage of impurities in the gases is so small as to be negligible; but have found that with such apparatus, the current yield is materially below the theoretical capacity of the apparatus when measured by the law above referred to. The loss in the yield is of a volume so great that a leak of the volume of gases thus unaccounted for would make the apparatus substantially inoperative. By experiment, I have determined that this loss of capacity efficiency instead of occurring as a result of a leakage of gases from the apparatus, is the result'of leakage of a portion of the current delivered to the apparatus about the electrode in a manner to permit the flow of this current without its doing useful work in decomposing the electrolyte. In other words, loss in the capacity efficiency of the apparatus is Athe direct result of seepage of the electric current through the electrolyte feed duct or the communicating passages between adjacent cells and in some cases through the gas offtake ducts as well.

The capacity efficiency of an apparatusv using a bi-polar electrode as compared with the law as above stated, even when a substantial wastage of gas through leakage is' prevented by a perfect packing of the electrodes shows a loss of approxlmately 10%.

By means of my invention, I am enabled to produce an electrolytic apparatus using bi-polar electrodes wherein the current yield, or capacity efficiency of the apparatus, will substantially equal that of a uni-polar apparatus and will conform to the recog-v nized and accepted law governing the operation of uni-polar apparatus. apparatus made in accordance with my invention, the capacityefficiency will be 100%, if absolutely pure gases are produced or a fraction under 100% where there are traces of impurities in the gases. I secure this result by so constructing the electrodes that the flow of the current from adjacentv one electrode to adjacent the other electrode is substantially prevented, thus causing all of the current delivered to the apparatus to do work in decomposing the electrolyte by providing the communicating passages lead'- VVith an f ing from one cell to another through which I electrolyte or electrolyte and gas flows with a device which will develop sufli^ an'ce to the How of the current path of the current being substa t ited to the plates of the various electrodes, with that resultant increase in the capacity efficiency of the apparatus above referred to.

The invention consists primarily in electrolytic apparatus of the bi-pol bodying therein a plurality of i, olar electrodes having communicating "passages through which electrolyte or electrolyte and gas flows from one cell to another, and means whereby the How of electric current through said communicating passage from.

cell t0 cell is substantially prevented; and

in such other novel features of construction 'and @Ombmation of parts as are hereinafter a .type emp-,set forth and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto ap- ;pended.

Referring to the drawings 2-Figure l 1s a vertical longitudinal section through the lower part of a group of bi-polar electrodes,

diii'erent portions being on parallel planes to show the ducts on both sides of the dia- 'phragm; F 2 is a similar view of the ,iupper part of the electrode; Fig. 3 is a section of a modified constructionand Fig. 4;

is `a sectionv of aa still further modified conelectrode is separated from thel adjoining electrode 'by means of a gas impervious diaphragm c the edge of which is clamped hetween the frames L of adjoining electrodes in a manner to form a liquid proof joint about the plate b.

The frame t ot' each electrode is provided at the bottom thereof with two lugs fir-e communicating respectively through the passage yal--c with the interior of said frame adjacent opposite sides of the plate b and between said plate and a diaphragm c. When plurality of electrodes are assembled in the apparatus, the openings of similar lugs d-e upon Vadjoining electrodes form a continuous duct through which electrolyte is delivered to the interior of the cell fornled by adjoining electrodes, but upon opposite sides of the diaphragm separating said electrodes.

At the top of eachelectrode, I provide similar lugs f-g communicating with the interior of the frame a upon opposite sides of the plate b through passages f-g. The lugs f-g have openings extending therethrough which, when a number of electrodes are assembled in the apparatus, form continuous ductscommunicatin with each cell on opposite sides of the diaphragm separating the adjoining frames forming that cell, through which ducts the gases generated in the apparatus pass from the cell. Ordinarily the lugs d-c-f-g. upon adjoining electrodes are provided with insulating gaskets h forming a liquid and gas proof joint between the lugs and about the 'openings thereim ,The construction heretofore described is ,that ,commonly used in electrolytic apparatos of the bi-polar type@ my'invention re-` leting more particularlyto that modification of the electrolyte feed or of the gas intake lucts, or oft both, .or of 'the passages leading Y rom said ducts 4to the several cells by reason of which conduction of the current through these ducts is prevented or diminished to a point whereany loss of current through this source is not appreciable. By insulating the ducts through the lugs l-ef*g, the decomposition of electrolyte in any of said ducts with a resultant presence of impurities in the gases generated, may be prevented but my present invention is not designed to affeet the purity of the products ofthe apparatus, but to avoid that loss ofthe electric current resulting in the reduction in the capacity efiiciency of the apparatus in its entirety. Y

To secure the desired result various different arrangements of communicating pas sages through which the electrolyte or electrolyte and gas may flow from one cell to another maybe used, some of which I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In that type of apparatus in which the gas and hydrostatic pressures are so controlled as to keep the gas oiftake ducts substantially free of electrolyte, it is merelyl necessary to apply my invention to the electrolyte feed duct; but where the electrolyte circulates through the gas otl'take ducts as well, the construction of these ducts should also be modified in accordance with my invention. Inact to prevent the electrolyte in the ducts and the passages extending from said ducts to the cell, acting as a conductor for the current, I provide conduits so constructed that the electrolyte therein will constitute a resistance to the flow of the current therethrough greater than the resistance of the cell proper but without materially interfering with the passage of the electrolyte or of the gases through said ducts. The electrolyte in the cell offers considerable resistance to the current, and by confining at yleast a. part of the electrolyte in the several ducts alone or ducts and passages within sutiiciently restricted area, the resistance encountered by the current may be raised in these ducts, or ducts and passages to a point which is higher than that encountered in the cell itself, .thus limiting the path of the current to the plates b, the electrolyte conta-inedin the cells and the diaphragms.

Thejportion of the conduit or passages re-v lied upon 4to develop the resistance above referred to, to secure the highest eiiiciency, is preferably made of insulating material so as to limit the path of the electric current to the electrolyte. j

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1, I provide the insulatin gaskets k for the openings in the lugscgpassage of lesser diameter than the/ openings in said lugs, and provide the opposite sides of the gasket pro er, with reduced rigid tubular extensions '-a-Z projecting into the openings in said lug. By means of these extensions, I elongate the passage exc, with a.

of the electrolyte between adjoining electrodes whereby a resistance is created suflicient to substantially prevent the flow of the current from one electrode to another through said duct.

6; An electrolytic a paratus embodying therein a plurality cip bi-polar electrodes forming a series of cells, electrolyte feed and gas offtake ducts common to all of said cells and an insulating medium forming constrictions in the paths of the electrolyte between adjoining electrodes whereby a resistance is created sutlicient to substantially prevent the fiow of the. current from one electrode to another through said ducts.

7. An electrolytic r )paratus embodying therein a plurality ot bi-polar electrodes forming a series of cells, said electrodes respectively being provided with a lug having an opening therethrough, the openings in the lugs of respective electrodes forming a continuous electrolyte feed duct, passages extending from said duct and communicating with each of said cells` and a gasket of insulating material forming a packing about the openings in said lugs, said gaskets having reduced tubular extensions of insulating material whereby a portion of said duct between adjoining electrodes is constricted to form an electrical resistance suliicicnt to substantially prevent the flow ot' 'the current from one electrode to another through said duct.

8. An electrolytic a therein a plurality o bi-polar electrodes forming a series ot cells, said electrodes resgeetively being provided with a lug having ai'i opening therethrough, the openings in the lugs of respective electrodes forming a continuous gas oi'take duct, passages extending from said duct and communicating with each of said cells, and a gasket of insulating material forming a packing about the openings in said lugs, said gaskets having reduced tubular extensions of insulating material whereby a portion of said duct between adjoining electrodes is constricted to form an electrical resistance suiiicient to substantially prevent the flow of the current from one electrode to another through said duct.

9. An electrolytio apparatus embodying therein a plurality of bi-polar electrodes forming a series of cells, said electrodes respectively being provided with a lug at the top thereof, and a lug at the bottom thereof, each of said lugs having an opening therethrough, the openings in the several lugs of the respective electrodes forming continuous electrolyte feed and gas ofl'take ducts, passages extending from said ducts respectively and communicating with each of said cells, and a gasket of insulating material forming a packing about the openings through said lugs respectively. said gasparatus embodying kets respectively having reduced rtubular extensions of insulating material whereby a portion of said lugs respectively between adjoining electrodes is constricted to" form an electrical resistance sufficient to substantially prevent the flow of the current from one electrode to another through said duct.

l0. An electrolytic apparatus embodying therein a pluralit' of bi-polar electrodes 75 forming a series oiy cells, said electrodes respectively being provided with a lug having an opening therethrough, the openings in the lugs of respective electrodes forming a continuous electrolyte feed duct, passages 30 extending from said duct and conununicating with each of said cells, a gasket of insulating material forming a packing about the openings in said lugs, said gaskets hay.v ing reduced tubular extensions of insulat\g5 ing material, a lining of insulating material for said passages respectively whereby the passage from one cell to another is so constricted as to form anv electrical resistance sufficient to substantially prevent the flow of the current from one electrode to another through said passages and said duct.

1l. An electrolytic apparatus embmiying therein a plurality oi iii-polar electrodes forming a series of cells, said electrodes rcspectively being provided with a iug having an opening therethrough, the openings in the lugs of respective electrodes forming a continuous gas ofl'take duct. passages extending from said duct and communicating 10( with each of said cells, a gasket ci' insulating material forming a packing about the openings in said lugs. said gaskets having reduced tubular cxtensionsot insulating material, a lining ot' insulating material for 105 said passages resl'iectively whereby the passage from one cell to another is so constricted as to form an electrical resistance sutiicient to substantially prevent the flow of the current from one electrode to another through said passages and said duct.

l2. An electrolytic apparatus embodying therein a plurality of 'oi-polar electrodes forming a series of cells, said electrodes respectively being provided with a lug at the top thereof, and a lug at the betteln thereof, cach of said lugs having an opening therethrough, the opening in the several lugs of respective electrodes forming continuous electrolyte feed, and gas oli'take, 12o ducts, passages extending from said ducts respectively and communicating with each of said cells, a gasket of insulating material' orming a, packing about the openings through said lugs respectively, said gaskets 12.5 respectively having reduced tubular extensions of insulating material, and a lining of insulating material for said passage.- respectively whereby thepassage from one cell to another is so constructed as to form :m elec 13o tr'ical resistance suficient to substantially prevent the flow of the current from one electrode to another through said passages and said ducts.

",3. An electrolytic apparatus embodying therein a plurality of b-polar electrodes forming a series of cells7 said electrodes having therethrough communicating passages through which electrolyte or electro- .'J lyte and gas may flow from one cell to another and means arranged in said passages respectively whereby the flow of the electric current from one electrode to mother through said passages is substant' Ully prevented.

In Witness whereof I hereunto aiiX my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses this 2nd day of June 1916.

ISAAC H. LEVIN.

Witnesses:

CLARICE FRANCK, JUDITH. PARDEE. 

